Announced by Microsoft back in March 12, on January 14, 2020, Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008/2008 R2 has gone out of support. One must install Year 2 ESU MAK Key to continue to receive security updates for your Windows 7/Windows Server 2008/2008 R2.
The purpose of this guide is to provide a step-by-step instruction on how to activate a Multiple Activation Key (MAK) using the Volume Activation Management Tool (VMAT) in a isolated air-gapped network. This method leverages Proxy activation on an Internet-connected VAMT host computer.
With Microsoft ending support of Windows Server 2008/2008 R2 on January 14, 2020, in this blog post I explain on how to migrate your Microsoft Root Certificate Authority running on Windows Server 2003/2008/2008 R2 to Windows 2016. This post also explains on how to migrate your Certification Authority key from Cryptographic Service Provider (CSP) to a Key Storage Provider and on how to migrate from SHA1 to SHA2 (SHA256). Please note similar steps can be used to migrate from Windows 2008 R2/2012 R2 to Windows 2016 and or Windows Server 2019.
Update 06.11.2020: Microsoft activation link updated.
Update 03.12.2020: Before installing and activating ESU keys, please ensure you have installed all prerequisites outlined under Prerequisite For Deploying ESU below.
Announced by Microsoft on March 12, on January 14, 2020, Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008/2008 R2 will go out of support, and soon thereafter Office 2010. Out of support means that there will no longer be any development or security patches released for these operating systems.